By Barry Kenyon
Re: By Barry Kenyon
Why don't they just adopt one common policy for ALL countries and stop confusing themselves???
Re: By Barry Kenyon
I don't know of any other country that does this. Certainly not, for example the US or UK.
Generally, if people from a country are less likely to go home when they should, it is harder for such people to get visas. Exactly how it should be.
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Gaybutton
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Re: By Barry Kenyon
“They’re not coming after you,” says expert on taxing foreign cash to Thailand
By Barry Kenyon
November 1, 2023
Speaking to a packed meeting of Pattaya City Expat Club, Thomas Carden advised worried expats living here on cash already taxed in the home country not to panic. The managing director of the Bangkok-based AITaxAdvisers said the Thai authorities had no intention to punish typical retirees or foreigners married to Thais or bringing up families. Moreover, the double-taxation agreements between Thailand and 61 countries – which included all those represented at the club meeting including the US and the UK – were an added safeguard.
However, Mr Carden did stress that the Thai revenue authority would need to ascertain who had taxable income in Thailand and who didn’t. Therefore, it was likely at some future date that all foreign tax residents – those living in Thailand for more than 180 days in any one year – would need a Thai revenue TIN (tax identification number) and be required to fill in an annual tax return. He speculated that the tax number might become part of the immigration application process for one-year extensions of stay. This was the obvious way to separate the foreign sheep (who had no taxable income here) from the foreign goats (who did).
The managing director explained that the idea of taxing foreign income in Thailand was nothing new. The only difference with the latest Thai revenue rule was that income transferred in any future tax year from January 1 2024 would be liable for tax, whereas the old clause restricted any due tax to cash brought in specifically during the same tax year it was earned. Thus the main idea will be to capture untaxed cash in future which might have been lying for ages in banks abroad or in offshore havens. Mr Carden pointed out that the scheme could even be delayed until January 2025 because no new law had been passed. Rather, the revenue authority had updated its own regulation.
Mr Carden doubted that anything significant would happen before or during January 2024. He suggested that the new Thai government loved the idea of raising mega-cash by proactive taxation, but had significantly underestimated the problems inherent in complex financial data. Thus clarification about details would likely be delayed several months, of course assuming there is a revenue intention to issue any sort of fact sheet. His advice to worried expats is to do absolutely nothing until told clearly to take some action. “Even if tax is due on some income in 2024, the tax form to collect it won’t be due for completion until 2025.” Following the presentation, Robert Chadwick from Business Class Asia gave a secondary talk about buying property abroad, mainly mortgages for American purchases.
https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/ ... and-444391
By Barry Kenyon
November 1, 2023
Speaking to a packed meeting of Pattaya City Expat Club, Thomas Carden advised worried expats living here on cash already taxed in the home country not to panic. The managing director of the Bangkok-based AITaxAdvisers said the Thai authorities had no intention to punish typical retirees or foreigners married to Thais or bringing up families. Moreover, the double-taxation agreements between Thailand and 61 countries – which included all those represented at the club meeting including the US and the UK – were an added safeguard.
However, Mr Carden did stress that the Thai revenue authority would need to ascertain who had taxable income in Thailand and who didn’t. Therefore, it was likely at some future date that all foreign tax residents – those living in Thailand for more than 180 days in any one year – would need a Thai revenue TIN (tax identification number) and be required to fill in an annual tax return. He speculated that the tax number might become part of the immigration application process for one-year extensions of stay. This was the obvious way to separate the foreign sheep (who had no taxable income here) from the foreign goats (who did).
The managing director explained that the idea of taxing foreign income in Thailand was nothing new. The only difference with the latest Thai revenue rule was that income transferred in any future tax year from January 1 2024 would be liable for tax, whereas the old clause restricted any due tax to cash brought in specifically during the same tax year it was earned. Thus the main idea will be to capture untaxed cash in future which might have been lying for ages in banks abroad or in offshore havens. Mr Carden pointed out that the scheme could even be delayed until January 2025 because no new law had been passed. Rather, the revenue authority had updated its own regulation.
Mr Carden doubted that anything significant would happen before or during January 2024. He suggested that the new Thai government loved the idea of raising mega-cash by proactive taxation, but had significantly underestimated the problems inherent in complex financial data. Thus clarification about details would likely be delayed several months, of course assuming there is a revenue intention to issue any sort of fact sheet. His advice to worried expats is to do absolutely nothing until told clearly to take some action. “Even if tax is due on some income in 2024, the tax form to collect it won’t be due for completion until 2025.” Following the presentation, Robert Chadwick from Business Class Asia gave a secondary talk about buying property abroad, mainly mortgages for American purchases.
https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/ ... and-444391
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Gaybutton
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Gaybutton
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Re: By Barry Kenyon
GOOD! I hope that military junta in Myanmar gets thrown out and the people no longer have to live in fear and under their control. Myanmar, in my opinion, should return to office those who were duly elected before this junta took over and establish free elections again. Political prisoners that opposed the junta should be released. Anyone that harmed others should end up arrested themselves. In any case, I think the sooner that junta is gone, the better. I just hope for that country's sake the next government will be the right kind, not run by a handful of selfish, greedy people who don't seem to give a damn about who or how many are killed or harmed just so that they can stay in power.
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Junta’s control of Myanmar is seriously threatened with implosion
By Barry Kenyon
November 9, 2023
Myanmar’s military regime, which came to power in a February 2021 coup, is in serious trouble. The military leader senior general Min Aung Hlaing has admitted that the country could split if his forces are unable to stop an insurrection in the huge and lawless Shan state which borders China, the junta’s largest trading partner. Military spokesman Zaw Min Tun has separately conceded that several northern towns have fallen to the Three Brotherhood Alliance which has overrun dozens of military posts, forced the surrender of hundreds of soldiers and cut off the junta’s access to the 2,000 kilometers of the Chinese border.
Jason Tower, Myanmar program director for a US-funded think tank, said about half the entire countryside was in the hands of insurgent groups which have, for example, cut oil and gas pipelines from the Bay of Bengal to the China border. The junta still controls the main cities, at any rate from the barracks, and has firm control of the capital Naypyitaw and the commercial hub of Yangon. The problem is that the fighting is getting closer to urban centers and even garrisoned towns are under threat.
There is speculation that senior general Myint will be forced to resign, although it is not clear who is successor would be and whether he could be any more effective in countering a civil war. In the south of the country, the Karen National Liberation Army has attacked towns which link Yangon with the Thai border. There are rumors that members of the State Administration Council (as the junta calls itself) have already bought properties in Thailand, to flee to if necessary. Some generals are believed to be in favour of a less incompetent leader who would enter negotiations with the disparate resistance groups. It would be no easy task.
The consequences of Myanmar’s internal chaos are far-reaching for its relations with other countries. Russia and China have both supplied arms to the junta, but China’s support has waned the Myanmar authorities have failed to check the growing number of cyberscam gangs operating in the border regions. Thailand has followed an ambivalent policy towards post-coup Myanmar and the Thai army maintains good relationships with its senior colleagues over the border. The deteriorating security situation means that foreign tourism, which had shown some small signs of picking up in the last 12 months, is again dead on its feet. Unless there is very soon international intervention to steady the political chaos, Myanmar could be on a course for total collapse or ad hoc division into separatist regions.
https://www.pattayamail.com/news/juntas ... ion-445021
________________________________________________________
Junta’s control of Myanmar is seriously threatened with implosion
By Barry Kenyon
November 9, 2023
Myanmar’s military regime, which came to power in a February 2021 coup, is in serious trouble. The military leader senior general Min Aung Hlaing has admitted that the country could split if his forces are unable to stop an insurrection in the huge and lawless Shan state which borders China, the junta’s largest trading partner. Military spokesman Zaw Min Tun has separately conceded that several northern towns have fallen to the Three Brotherhood Alliance which has overrun dozens of military posts, forced the surrender of hundreds of soldiers and cut off the junta’s access to the 2,000 kilometers of the Chinese border.
Jason Tower, Myanmar program director for a US-funded think tank, said about half the entire countryside was in the hands of insurgent groups which have, for example, cut oil and gas pipelines from the Bay of Bengal to the China border. The junta still controls the main cities, at any rate from the barracks, and has firm control of the capital Naypyitaw and the commercial hub of Yangon. The problem is that the fighting is getting closer to urban centers and even garrisoned towns are under threat.
There is speculation that senior general Myint will be forced to resign, although it is not clear who is successor would be and whether he could be any more effective in countering a civil war. In the south of the country, the Karen National Liberation Army has attacked towns which link Yangon with the Thai border. There are rumors that members of the State Administration Council (as the junta calls itself) have already bought properties in Thailand, to flee to if necessary. Some generals are believed to be in favour of a less incompetent leader who would enter negotiations with the disparate resistance groups. It would be no easy task.
The consequences of Myanmar’s internal chaos are far-reaching for its relations with other countries. Russia and China have both supplied arms to the junta, but China’s support has waned the Myanmar authorities have failed to check the growing number of cyberscam gangs operating in the border regions. Thailand has followed an ambivalent policy towards post-coup Myanmar and the Thai army maintains good relationships with its senior colleagues over the border. The deteriorating security situation means that foreign tourism, which had shown some small signs of picking up in the last 12 months, is again dead on its feet. Unless there is very soon international intervention to steady the political chaos, Myanmar could be on a course for total collapse or ad hoc division into separatist regions.
https://www.pattayamail.com/news/juntas ... ion-445021
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Gaybutton
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Re: By Barry Kenyon
In my opinion trying to cater to specific target groups is a mistake. You never know what might happen. Look what happened to the businesses and venues that were catering specifically to Chinese tour groups. No one ever imagined something like Covid would happen. But it did. Now most of those are either out of business or desperately struggling.
To me, catering to multiple groups makes much more sense than targeting one specific group, but that's the chance these businesses are taking. For their sake I hope that old cliché about history repeating itself won't happen. What are the odds?
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Pattaya’s Walking Street investors bet on Indian tourist influx
By Barry Kenyon
November 12, 2023
No stranger to changes over 50 years history, Pattaya’s iconic street is on the move again. Figuratively that is. There are now 7 Indian discos and nightclubs located on Walking Street with more following the trend. The total rebuilding at the former Marine disco area is rumored to include a hotel as well as a club catering for tourists from the sub-continent, as reported by knowledgeable nightlife gurus Stickman and Dave the Rave.
There have been already this year over one million Indian tourists to Thailand with Pattaya being the prime destination according to the Thai tourist authority. Given that 90 percent of them are male, it can be assumed that they are not looking for family entertainment after the sun goes down. Now that Indian nationals automatically receive a visa-exempt 30 days on arrival at Thai airports, currently a pilot project, the numbers are expected to zoom over the next few months.
Currently, virtually all Indian tourists arrive at Bangkok airports as Rayong’s U-tapao has not yet started regular charter or scheduled flights from 20 Indian cities. Once they do, the scope is gigantic. However, it is not uncommon for specially-arranged flights of 300-plus passengers already to arrive in Thailand for Indian weddings which are already a significant income earner for some of Pattaya’s five star hotels. Thai tourist officials are keen to develop links with India as the numbers of Chinese visitors so far has been lower than predicted.
The Indian clubs on Walking Street are increasingly glitzy and upmarket in line with the broader street trends. The Nashaa has been totally rebuilt following a still-unexplained fire during the pandemic. Others include Tony’s by Nashaa, Jannaat, Raas, Cavalli, Rajah and Leela. As Stickman points out, the nighteries specifically targeting white foreigners are declining whilst those catering for other target groups, such as Indians, South Koreans and Russians are increasing.
The traditional Pattaya markets, mostly Brits and mainland Europeans, are now mostly to be found in the Soi L.K.Metro and Soi Buakhao district with 10 new bars under the title Las Vegas Beer Garden set to open in January in Soi Diana, opposite L.K.Metro. There will be novel features in this bar complex such as a centralized sound system and common booze prices, so the main attraction will be the female Thai staff in each separate venue. Same same but different.
https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/ ... lux-445222
To me, catering to multiple groups makes much more sense than targeting one specific group, but that's the chance these businesses are taking. For their sake I hope that old cliché about history repeating itself won't happen. What are the odds?
____________________________________________________
Pattaya’s Walking Street investors bet on Indian tourist influx
By Barry Kenyon
November 12, 2023
No stranger to changes over 50 years history, Pattaya’s iconic street is on the move again. Figuratively that is. There are now 7 Indian discos and nightclubs located on Walking Street with more following the trend. The total rebuilding at the former Marine disco area is rumored to include a hotel as well as a club catering for tourists from the sub-continent, as reported by knowledgeable nightlife gurus Stickman and Dave the Rave.
There have been already this year over one million Indian tourists to Thailand with Pattaya being the prime destination according to the Thai tourist authority. Given that 90 percent of them are male, it can be assumed that they are not looking for family entertainment after the sun goes down. Now that Indian nationals automatically receive a visa-exempt 30 days on arrival at Thai airports, currently a pilot project, the numbers are expected to zoom over the next few months.
Currently, virtually all Indian tourists arrive at Bangkok airports as Rayong’s U-tapao has not yet started regular charter or scheduled flights from 20 Indian cities. Once they do, the scope is gigantic. However, it is not uncommon for specially-arranged flights of 300-plus passengers already to arrive in Thailand for Indian weddings which are already a significant income earner for some of Pattaya’s five star hotels. Thai tourist officials are keen to develop links with India as the numbers of Chinese visitors so far has been lower than predicted.
The Indian clubs on Walking Street are increasingly glitzy and upmarket in line with the broader street trends. The Nashaa has been totally rebuilt following a still-unexplained fire during the pandemic. Others include Tony’s by Nashaa, Jannaat, Raas, Cavalli, Rajah and Leela. As Stickman points out, the nighteries specifically targeting white foreigners are declining whilst those catering for other target groups, such as Indians, South Koreans and Russians are increasing.
The traditional Pattaya markets, mostly Brits and mainland Europeans, are now mostly to be found in the Soi L.K.Metro and Soi Buakhao district with 10 new bars under the title Las Vegas Beer Garden set to open in January in Soi Diana, opposite L.K.Metro. There will be novel features in this bar complex such as a centralized sound system and common booze prices, so the main attraction will be the female Thai staff in each separate venue. Same same but different.
https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/ ... lux-445222
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Gaybutton
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Re: By Barry Kenyon
I'll put it this way - I've seen better ideas . . .
I like this part: "The fear was that the cooperation was a cover for secret Chinese police stations which apparently operate in 54 countries to keep watch on Chinese mafias but also, more controversially, to monitor regime dissidents."
What's the matter Chinese powers-that-be? Can't handle any opposition or criticism? Does the very thought of it bruise your egos? Afraid something might jeopardize your divine right to power?
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Chinese police in Thailand unthinkable say Pattaya netizens
By Barry Kenyon
November 13, 2023
The suggestion of premier Srettha Thavisin that there could be joint patrols of Thai and Chinese police officers in Thai resort areas such as Pattaya has been given a huge thumbs-down on social media. Thailand’s potential lack of independence and erosion of sovereignty have been highlighted, whilst some netizens have categorized the idea as crazy or counter-productive. The concept is not actually new and was piloted in Italy and Croatia as a way of offering added protection to Chinese tourists before being suddenly withdrawn by Italian authorities last year. The fear was that the cooperation was a cover for secret Chinese police stations which apparently operate in 54 countries to keep watch on Chinese mafias but also, more controversially, to monitor regime dissidents.
Tourist Authority of Thailand governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool offered support for the prime minister’s idea by saying that ramping up safety measures was a way of boosting Chinese tourist confidence. But Thai government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke said the proposed scheme was to use Chinese police in crackdowns on mafia groupings who have been using Chinese citizens in a variety of boiler room scams designed to cheat Chinese citizens of their cash. But the spokesman then said that there would be no joint patrols and that the scheme simply meant traditional cooperation with the Beijing police authorities.
Srettha’s typical cash-driven concern is undoubtedly that the aim of attracting up to 4.4 million Chinese tourists in 2023 will fail as the current number is 2.8 million. Until May 24 2024, Chinese nationals can enter Thailand without a visa for 30 days, but the discretion has not yet had the impact which was envisaged. The slowdown in the Chinese economy and bad stories about Thailand circulating on Chinese social media are likely significant factors. The question is whether publicity about Chinese police having publicized involvement in vacations abroad will reassure potential holidaymakers or cause them to book elsewhere.
Pattaya expats have been particular forceful on local social media. In over 200 randomly monitored comments, not one was in favour of seeing Chinese policemen escorting Thai tourist police on their inspections of beaches and pleasure zones. Few contributors bothered to debate the underlying issues, confining themselves to criticisms such as “you couldn’t make this stuff up” or “Thailand is telling the world it can’t cope”. Pattaya tourist police headquarters and City Hall both denied there were any concrete plans on the stocks. One official said, “I think the prime minister may have been misquoted.” We all certainly hope so.
https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/ ... ens-445298
I like this part: "The fear was that the cooperation was a cover for secret Chinese police stations which apparently operate in 54 countries to keep watch on Chinese mafias but also, more controversially, to monitor regime dissidents."
What's the matter Chinese powers-that-be? Can't handle any opposition or criticism? Does the very thought of it bruise your egos? Afraid something might jeopardize your divine right to power?
___________________________________________________
Chinese police in Thailand unthinkable say Pattaya netizens
By Barry Kenyon
November 13, 2023
The suggestion of premier Srettha Thavisin that there could be joint patrols of Thai and Chinese police officers in Thai resort areas such as Pattaya has been given a huge thumbs-down on social media. Thailand’s potential lack of independence and erosion of sovereignty have been highlighted, whilst some netizens have categorized the idea as crazy or counter-productive. The concept is not actually new and was piloted in Italy and Croatia as a way of offering added protection to Chinese tourists before being suddenly withdrawn by Italian authorities last year. The fear was that the cooperation was a cover for secret Chinese police stations which apparently operate in 54 countries to keep watch on Chinese mafias but also, more controversially, to monitor regime dissidents.
Tourist Authority of Thailand governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool offered support for the prime minister’s idea by saying that ramping up safety measures was a way of boosting Chinese tourist confidence. But Thai government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke said the proposed scheme was to use Chinese police in crackdowns on mafia groupings who have been using Chinese citizens in a variety of boiler room scams designed to cheat Chinese citizens of their cash. But the spokesman then said that there would be no joint patrols and that the scheme simply meant traditional cooperation with the Beijing police authorities.
Srettha’s typical cash-driven concern is undoubtedly that the aim of attracting up to 4.4 million Chinese tourists in 2023 will fail as the current number is 2.8 million. Until May 24 2024, Chinese nationals can enter Thailand without a visa for 30 days, but the discretion has not yet had the impact which was envisaged. The slowdown in the Chinese economy and bad stories about Thailand circulating on Chinese social media are likely significant factors. The question is whether publicity about Chinese police having publicized involvement in vacations abroad will reassure potential holidaymakers or cause them to book elsewhere.
Pattaya expats have been particular forceful on local social media. In over 200 randomly monitored comments, not one was in favour of seeing Chinese policemen escorting Thai tourist police on their inspections of beaches and pleasure zones. Few contributors bothered to debate the underlying issues, confining themselves to criticisms such as “you couldn’t make this stuff up” or “Thailand is telling the world it can’t cope”. Pattaya tourist police headquarters and City Hall both denied there were any concrete plans on the stocks. One official said, “I think the prime minister may have been misquoted.” We all certainly hope so.
https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/ ... ens-445298
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Gaybutton
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Re: By Barry Kenyon
This article is not by Barry Kenyon, but definitely reflects a huge amount of public opinion about using Chinese police in Thailand to protect Chinese citizens. In a country like China, would their purpose also include keeping an eye on their citizens and what they are doing and saying? Would the equivalent of the Gestapo be walking around writing down names in their little notebooks? Supporters believe this would provide greater confidence for Chinese tourists and result in more deciding to holiday in Thailand. I think it would have precisely the opposite effect.
And protect their citizens exactly how? Would they be authorized to carry weapons? Authorized to arrest? What if they spot a crime being committed against someone obviously not Chinese? What happens if they make a mistake and cause harm to someone innocent? Do they go out on their own or work only with Thai police? What about the language barrier? What happens if a dispute arises between the Chinese and Thai police?
I would be curious about who came up with this idea - and why. Since apparently China so far is the only country mentioned for this, was it Thailand or China that originated the idea? If it was China, why would Thailand cooperate with such an idea rather than taking a few moments to first have a good laugh before rejecting it?
Would you gents from the UK want UK police in Thailand for the purpose of "protecting" UK citizens? Americans? French? German? And from our standpoint, what if some of those foreign police happen to be homophobic?
By that kind of "logic", why use Thai police at all to protect foreigners? Just bring in police from every nation that has significant numbers of their citizens visiting Thailand. And what rules and laws and immigration regulations would they be exempt from? What restrictions, if any, would they face during their off duty hours?
Sorry folks, but it seems to me far too much can, and very likely will, go wrong. I don't see this as a workable idea and I really don't understand its purpose in the first place.
While we all are aware of corruption within Thai police, that doesn't mean the majority of police officers aren't doing an excellent job of keeping people protected. Thailand doesn't need better police or help from foreign countries. In my opinion, all Thailand needs is more police presence in the tourist and high crime areas - well trained police.
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Chinese police presence in Thailand a “slap in the face” : ex-NIA deputy director
November 13, 2023
Former deputy director of National Intelligence Agency Nantiwat Samart has questioned the concept of inviting Chinese police to join their Thai counterparts on patrol in main tourist provinces, ostensibly to boost the confidence of Chinese nationals in Thailand.
In his Facebook post today, the former spy chief said that he wonders who initiated the idea. He asked whether the idea is rooted in fear or is a joke, adding that if other foreign tourists want their police to do the same, will the Thai government allow them to do so?
He went on to say that allowing Chinese police to operate here amounts to a slap in the face to the Thai police. “Are the Thai police that bad?” he asked, adding that, if there are insufficient police to provide protection to Chinese tourists, the logical way to solve this problem is to increase Thai manpower or to ask local officials to help the police.
Nantiwat also questioned whether there is there something strange about there currently being an unusually high number of news reports related to China. He then cited a statement, issued by the Chinese embassy in Thailand during the weekend, complaining about a Thai media report of a Taiwanese separatist talking about the independence of Taiwan.
According to Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool, the idea of inviting Chinese police to operate in Thailand with Thai police was initiated by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, citing the example of Italy.
Thapanee said that the idea was raised by the prime minister during his official visit to Beijing in October and it has been discussed between Thai authorities and Chinese embassy officials.
https://www.thaipbsworld.com/chinese-po ... -director/
See also: https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeas ... rks-outcry
And protect their citizens exactly how? Would they be authorized to carry weapons? Authorized to arrest? What if they spot a crime being committed against someone obviously not Chinese? What happens if they make a mistake and cause harm to someone innocent? Do they go out on their own or work only with Thai police? What about the language barrier? What happens if a dispute arises between the Chinese and Thai police?
I would be curious about who came up with this idea - and why. Since apparently China so far is the only country mentioned for this, was it Thailand or China that originated the idea? If it was China, why would Thailand cooperate with such an idea rather than taking a few moments to first have a good laugh before rejecting it?
Would you gents from the UK want UK police in Thailand for the purpose of "protecting" UK citizens? Americans? French? German? And from our standpoint, what if some of those foreign police happen to be homophobic?
By that kind of "logic", why use Thai police at all to protect foreigners? Just bring in police from every nation that has significant numbers of their citizens visiting Thailand. And what rules and laws and immigration regulations would they be exempt from? What restrictions, if any, would they face during their off duty hours?
Sorry folks, but it seems to me far too much can, and very likely will, go wrong. I don't see this as a workable idea and I really don't understand its purpose in the first place.
While we all are aware of corruption within Thai police, that doesn't mean the majority of police officers aren't doing an excellent job of keeping people protected. Thailand doesn't need better police or help from foreign countries. In my opinion, all Thailand needs is more police presence in the tourist and high crime areas - well trained police.
_____________________________________________________________________
Chinese police presence in Thailand a “slap in the face” : ex-NIA deputy director
November 13, 2023
Former deputy director of National Intelligence Agency Nantiwat Samart has questioned the concept of inviting Chinese police to join their Thai counterparts on patrol in main tourist provinces, ostensibly to boost the confidence of Chinese nationals in Thailand.
In his Facebook post today, the former spy chief said that he wonders who initiated the idea. He asked whether the idea is rooted in fear or is a joke, adding that if other foreign tourists want their police to do the same, will the Thai government allow them to do so?
He went on to say that allowing Chinese police to operate here amounts to a slap in the face to the Thai police. “Are the Thai police that bad?” he asked, adding that, if there are insufficient police to provide protection to Chinese tourists, the logical way to solve this problem is to increase Thai manpower or to ask local officials to help the police.
Nantiwat also questioned whether there is there something strange about there currently being an unusually high number of news reports related to China. He then cited a statement, issued by the Chinese embassy in Thailand during the weekend, complaining about a Thai media report of a Taiwanese separatist talking about the independence of Taiwan.
According to Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool, the idea of inviting Chinese police to operate in Thailand with Thai police was initiated by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, citing the example of Italy.
Thapanee said that the idea was raised by the prime minister during his official visit to Beijing in October and it has been discussed between Thai authorities and Chinese embassy officials.
https://www.thaipbsworld.com/chinese-po ... -director/
See also: https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeas ... rks-outcry